Bismuth-molybdenum oxidation catalyst promoted with a ba-si oxide mixture



3,186,955 BISMUTH-lldULYBDENUli E GXTDATEUN QATALYST PRQMQTED WETH A BA-Si (BEBE MlXTUitE James L. Qallahan, Bedford, and Joseph J. daabo, Chagrin Falls, Qhio, and Berthold Gertisser, New York, N.Y., assignors to The Standard Bil ompany, Cleveland, Ghio, a corporation of Ghio No Drawing. Filed May 28, 1962, Ser. No. $7,932 8 Claims. (Cl. 252-435) This invention relates to an improved oxidation catalyst consisting essentially of oxides of the elements bismuth and molybdenum, and optionally, phosphorus, promoted by oxides of barium and silicon, and to the catalytic oxidation of olefins to oxygenated hydrocarbons such as propylene to acrolein, and the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of olefins to diolefins such as butene-l to butadiene, and tertiary amylenes to isoprene, and to the oxidation of olefin-ammonia mixtures to unsaturated nitrilessuch as propylene-ammonia to acrylonitrile, using such catalysts.

The Callahan, Foreman and Veatch US. Patent No. 2,941,007 describes the oxidation of an olefin such as propylene and the various butenes with oxygen and a solid catalyst composed of the oxides of bismuth, molybdenum and silicon, and optionally, phosphorus. This catalyst selectively converts propylene to acrolein, isobutylene to methacrolein, aand B-butylene to methyl vinyl ketone and to butadiene, etc. High yields are ob tainable, although in the case of the butenes, careful control of reaction conditions may be required in order to direct the reaction in favor of either methyl vinyl ketone or butadiene, depending upon which of these alternative products is desired.

The Idol, I11, Patent No. 2,904,580 employs the same catalyst to convert propylene, ammonia and oxygen to acrylonitrile, at approximately atmospheric pressures and elevated temperatures. Excellent conversions, usually in the range of 40 to 80%, nitrogen basis, of useful products are obtainable.

I. THE CATALYST In accordance with the instant invention, the catalytic activity of such bismuth oxide-molybdenum oxide catalysts is greatly enhanced or promoted by the combination therewith of a mixture of barium and silicon in the form of their oxides, referred to hereinafter as promoters. The promoters in accordance with the invention are best applied by impregnation or surface coating of the catalyst, after its formation in accordance with the procedure described in Serial No. 851,919, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Further, in accordance with the invention, it has been determined that phosphorus oxide can also be present as .a supplemental oxide.

The proportions of barium oxide and silicon oxide, with or without phosphorus oxide and/ or manganese oxide, are important in obtaining the optimum enhanced activity. The barium oxide concentration, calculated as barium, should be Within the range from about 1 to about 5% by weight; and the amount of siiicon oxide, calculated as silicon, should be within the range from about 1 to about by weight, although more than 10% can be used, if desired.

While the catalyst of this invention may be employed Without any support, it is desirable to combine it with a support. A preferred support is silica because the silica improve the catalytic activity of the catalyst. The silica may be present in any amount but it is preferred that the catalyst contain between about 25 to 75% by Weight of silica. Many other materials such as alundum, silicon carbide, alumina-silica, alumina, titania and other chemically inert materials may be employed as a support which will Withstand the conditions of the process.

3,l8fi,955 Patented June 1, 1965 The catalyst may comprise phosphorus, also present in the form of the oxide. Phosphorus will affect, to some extent, the catalytic properties of the composition, but the presence or absence of phosphorus has no appreciable effect on the physical properties of the catalyst. Thus, the composition can include from 0%, and preferably from at least 0.1%, up to about 5% by weight of phosphorus oxide, calculated as phosphorus.

The promoter is incorporated with the catalyst base by impregnation thereof, using an aqueous solution, dispersion, or suspension of a barium compound and of a silicon compound, either the oxide, or a compound thermally decomposable in situ to the corresponding barium oxide or silicon oxide, respectively, Without formation of other deleterious metal oxide residue, for instance, barium acetate, fiuosilicic acid, barium bromide, barium chloride, barium nitrate, barium peroxide, barium persulfate, barium propionate, ammonium silicofluoride, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, hydrous barium silicate, silicic acids, such as monosilicic acid and polysilicic acids of low molecular Weight, hydrous silica and colloidal silica. After impregnation with such solution, employed in a concentration and amount to provide the desired amount of barium and silicon, the catalyst base is dried, and then calcined at a temperature above that at which the compounds applied are decomposed to the oxides. Temperatures in excess of 800 F. but below that at which the catalyst is deleteriously affected, usually not in excess of about 1050 F., can be used.

The basic catalyst composition comprises bismuth oxide and molybdenum oxide, the bismuth-to-molybdenum ratio BizMo being controlled so that it is at all times above 1:3. There is no critical upper limit on the amount of bismuth, but in view of the relatively high cost of bismuth and the lack of an improved catalytic effect when large amounts are used, generally the atomic ratio bismuth to molybdenum BizMo of about 3:1 is not exceeded. The nature of the chemical compounds which compose the basic catalyst is not known. The catalyst may be a mere mixture of bismuth and molybdenum oxides, with or Without phosphorus oxide, but it seems more likely that the catalyst is a homogeneous micro mixture of loose chemical combinations of oxides of bismuth and molybdenum, with, optionally, phosphorus, and it is these combinations which appear to impart the desirable catalytic properties to this catalytic composition. The catalyst can be referred to as bismuth molybdate, or, when phosphorus is present, as bismuth phosphomolybdate, but this term is not to be construed as meaning that the catalyst is composed of these compounds.

The barium and silicon compounds added thereto as promoters may or may not enter into the chemical composition of the catalyst. Silicon added later with barium produces a different result from silicon added to a catalyst composition as a support and has a different function, since the enhanced catalytic effect is not obtained when silicon oxide is combined as a support. Hence, the promoted catalytic effect may be due to some complex sili con oxide-barium oxide combination formed on the surface of the catalyst. In any event, the silicon and barium are present in the form of their oxides, when combined therewith later in accordance with the invention.

The bismuth molybdate catalyst composition of the invention may have the following composition ranges, as long as the atomic ratio of bismuth to molybdenum is above 1:3.

Element: Weight percent Bismuth 29.8478.08 Molybdenum 11.32-47.29 Oxygen 996-2684- Phosphorus 0- 2.40

When silica is used as the support, the empirical for mula is a b 12 c'( 2)1 to 600 where a, b and c are as defined 'above.

When the silica is present as about 30 to 70 weight percent of the final composition, the empirical formula is where a, b and c are as defined above.

To this are to be added barium oxide and silicon oxides, as such or as formed in situ from other added barium and silicon compounds, so that the empirical formula of the promoted catalyst in accordance with the invention corresponds to the following:

(4) 72.597% (Bi P Mo O (SiO 16%BaO-2-2l.5%SiO V,

The values of a, b and c are in accordance with the definitions given above.

When the atomic ratio of bismuth to molybdenum BizMo is about 3.4, the empirical formula is 5 72.5-97% Bi,i= Mo ,o,- (SiO 1-6%BaO-2-21.5%Si0 The values of b and c are as defined above.

When the silica is present as about 30 to 70 weight percent of the final composition, the empirical formula is 725-9 7 a b 12 c z) 20-150) 16%BaO 2-21.5 SiO where a, b and c are as defined above.

'11. OXIDATION OF OLEFINS TO ALDEHYDES AND KETONES THE REACTANTS The reactants used in the oxidation to oxygenated compounds are an olefin or mixture thereof andoxygen. By the term olefin as used herein and in the appended claims is meant the open-chain as well as cyclic olefins. Among the many olefinic compounds which may be utilized in accordance with the process of the invention,

the following compounds are illustrative: propylene, butene-l, butene-2, isobutylene, pentene-l, pentene-2, 3- methyl-butene-l, 2-methyl-butene-2, hexene-l, hexene-Z, 4-methylpentene-l, 3,3-dimethyl-butene-l, 4-methyl-pentene-2,.octene-1, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, 3-methylcyclohexene, etc. The invention is directed particularly to the oxidation of the lower alkenes (3 to 8 carbon atoms) but higher alkenes may also be utilized with eflicacy. These compounds and their various homologs and analogs may be substituted in the nucleus and/or in the substitutents in various degrees by straight-chain alicyclic. or heterocyclic radicals. The process of the invention is applicable to individual olefins as well as to mixtures of olefins and also to mixtures of olefins with the corresponding or other saturated organic compounds.

The process of this invention is particularly adapted to the conversion of propylene to acrolein, isobutylene to methacrolein, alphaor beta-butylene to methyl vinyl ketone, pentene-l or pentene-Zto ethyl. vinyl ketone and/or pentenee3-one-2, Z-methyl-butene-Z to methyl isopropenyl ketone, cyclopentene ,to cyclopentenone-Z,

and, the like.

' ketone.

Straight-chain alpha-olefins of three or more carbon atoms, when oxidized according to the process of the invention, tend to yield the same products as'the corresponding beta-olefins. Thus, as stated above, the alphabutylene, as well as beta-butylene, yields methyl vinyl ketone; and pente'ne-l, like pentene-Z, yields ethyl vinyl It is believed that this results from isomeriza tion of the alpha-olefins to the beta-olefins under the reaction conditions.

It is surprising that the vinyl type carbonylic products obtained by the process of this invention are not always those which would be expected from the direct substitution of an oxygen atom for two hydrogen atoms in the allyl position, i.e.,'for two hydrogen atoms attached to a carbon atom separated from the 'double bond by an intervening carbon atom. For in the latter case beta butylene would form crotonaldehyde and not methyl vinyl ketone. Instead, the reaction appears to be initiated at the double bond and proceeds with the elimination of a hydrogen atom 'in the allyl position and a change in position of the double bond.

' The olefins may be inadmixture' with other hydro- PROCESS CONDITIONS The temperature at which this oxidation is conducted may vary considerably depending upon the catalyst, the particular olefin being oxidized and the correlated conditions of the rate of throughput or contact time and the ratio of olefin to oxygen. In general, when operating at pressures near atmospheric, i.e., 10 to p.s.i.g., temperatures in the range of 500 to 1000 F. may be advantageously employed. However, the process may be conducted atother pressures, and in the case where super atmospheric pressures, e.g., above 100 p.s.i.g., are employed somewhat lower temperatures are feasible. In the case where this process is employed to convert propylene to acrolein, atemperature range of 750 to 850 F. has been found to be optimum at atmospheric pressure.

The apparent contact time employed in the process is not critical and it may be selected from a broad operable range which may vary from 0.1 to 50 seconds. The apparent contact time may be defined as the length of time in seconds which the unit volume of gas measured under the conditions of reaction is in contact with the apparent unit volume of the catalyst. It may be calculated for example from the apparent volume of the catalyst bed, the average temperature and pressure of the reactor, and the flow rates of the several components of the reaction mixture. The optimum contact time will, of

appears to be the least expensivesource of oxygen and it' is preferred for that reason. j We have also discovered that the addition of Water to the reaction mixture has a marked beneficial influence on the course of the reaction in that it improves the conversion and the yield of the desired product. The manner in which. water aiiect-s the reaction is not fully understood but the theory of this phenomenon'is not deemed important in view of the experimental results We have obtained. Accordingly, we prefer to include water in the reaction mixture; Generally, a ratio of olefin to Water in the reaction mixture ofl l to11:10 will give very satisfactory results and a ratio of 1:3 to 1: 5 has been found to be optimum when converting propylene to acrolein. The Water, of course, will be in the vapor phase during the reaction.

Inert diluents such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and saturated hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, and butane and pentane may be present in the reaction mixture.

In general, any apparatus of the type suitable for carrying out oxidation reactions in the vapor phase may be employed for the execution of the process. it may be operated continuously or intermittently and may be a fixed bed with a pelleted catalyst or a so-called fluidized bed of catalyst. A fluidized catalyst bed simplifies problems of temperature control since coils through which Water or other heat transfer medium is circulated may be conveniently disposed in the bed to control the temperature.

As stated above, pressures other than atmospheric may be employed in this process but it is generally preferred to operate at or nca atmospheric pressure since the reaction proceeds Well at such pressures and the use of expensive high pressure equipment is avoided.

The reactor may be brought to the reaction temperature before or after the introduction of the vapors to be reacted. In large scale operation, it i preferred to carry out the process in a continuous manner and in this system the recirculation of unreacted olefin and/ or oxygen is contemplated. Periodic regeneration or reactivation of the catalyst is also contemplated. This may be accomplished, for example, by contacting the catalyst with air at an elevated temperature.

The unsaturated carbonyl product or products may be isolated from the gases leaving the reaction zone by any appropriate means, the exact procedure in any given case being determined by the nature and quantity of the reaction products. For example, the excess gas may be scrubbed with cold Water or an appropriate solvent to remove the carbonyl product. In the case where the prod ucts are recovered in this manner, the ultimate recovery from the solvent may be by any suitable means such as distillation. The eficiency of the scrubbing operation may be improved when water is employed as the scrubbing agent by adding a suitable wetting agent to the water. If desired, the scrubbing of the reaction gases may be preceded by a cold Water quench of the gases which of itself will serve to separate a significant amount of the carbonyl products. Where molecular oxygen is employed as the oxidizing agent in this process, the resulting product mixture remaining after the removal of the carbonyl product may be treated to remove carbon dioxide with the remainder or" the mixture comprising any unreacted olefin and oxygen being recycled through the reactor. In the case Where air is employed as the oxidizing agent in lieu of molecular oxygen, the residual product after separation of the carbonyl product may be scrubbed with a nonpolar solvent e.g., a hydrocarbon fraction, in order to recover unreacted olefin and in this case the remaining gases may be discarded. An inhibitor to prevent polymerization of the unsaturated products, as is well known in the art, may be added at any stage.

III. OXIDATION OF OLEFINS TO NITRILES THE REACTANTS The reactants used are the same as in II above, plus ammonia. Any of the olefins described can be used.

In its preferred aspect, the process comprises contacting a mixture comprising propylene, ammonia and oxygen with the catalyst at an elevated temperature and at atmospheric or near atmospheric pressure.

Any source of oxygen may be employed in thi process. For economic reasons, however, it is preferred that air be employed as the source of oxygen. From a purely technical viewpoint, relatively pure molecular oxygen will give equivalent results. The molar ratio of oxygen to the olefin in the feed to the reaction vessel should be in the range of 0.5:1 to 3:1 and a ratio of about 1:1 to 2:1 is preferred.

The presence of the corresponding saturated hydrocarbons does not appear to influence the reaction to any appreciable degree, and these materials appear to act only as diluents. Consequently, the presence of the corresponding saturated hydrocarbons or other saturated hydrocarbons in the feed to the reaction is contemplated within the scope of this invention. Likewise, other diluents such as nitrogen and the oxides of carbon may be present in the reaction mixture without deleterious effect.

AMMONIA-OLEFI N RATIO The molar ratio of ammonia to olefin in the feed to the reaction may vary between about 0.65 :1 to 5: 1. There is no real upper limit for the ammonia-olefin ratio, but there is generally no point in exceeding the 5:1 ratio. At ammonia-olefin ratios appreciably less than the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1, various amounts of oxygenated derivatives of the olefin will be formed.

Si nificant amounts of unsaturated aldehyde or ketone as Well as nitrile will be obtained at ammonia-olefin ratios substantially below 1:1, i.e., in the range of 0.15:1 to 0.75:1. Outside the upper limit of this range only insignificant amounts of aldehyde or ketone will be pro duced, and only very small amounts of nitrile will be produced at ammonia-olefin ratios below the lower limit of this range. It is fortuitous that within the ammoniaoleiin range stated, maximum utilization of ammonia is obtained and this is highly desirable. It is generally possible to recycle the olefin to the process, Whereas the unconverted ammonia may be recovered and recycled only with difficulty.

mOOLE'FIN RATIO A particularly surprising aspect of this invention is the effect of Water on the course of the reaction. We have found that the presence of water in the mitxure fed to the reaction vessel improves the selectivity and yield of the reaction as far as the production of the nitrile is concerned. Improvements on the order of several hundred percent have been observed in the presence of Water as compared to similar runs made in the absence of added water. Consequently, the presence of water has a marked beneficial crlect on this reaction, but reactions not including water in the feed are not to be excluded from this invention.

In general, the molar ratio of Water to olefin should be at least about 0.25 :1. Ratios on the order of 1:1 are particularly desirable but higher ratios may be employed, i.e., up to about 10:1. Because of the recovery problems involved, it is generally preferred to use only so much water as is necessary to obtain the desired improvement in yield. It is to be understood that water does not behave as an inert diluent in the reaction mixture. This conclusion has been verified by employing other diluents in the reaction mixture, such as propane and nitrogen. No corresponding improvement in yield and selectivity is observed with such diluents. Although the exact manner in which the water affects the reaction is not understood, it is clear that the water does have a significant influence on the reaction.

One theory which has been postulated to explain the efiect of water on the reaction involves the phenomena occurring at the surface of the catalyst. Water, because of its polarity, may assist in the desorption of the reaction products from the surface of the catalyst. According to another hypothesis, the water may change the nature of the catalyst at the catalyst surface by affecting the acidity of the catalyst. Notwithstanding the fact that either of these theories may be in error, the improved results occasioned by the use of water are evident and the theory by which these results are to be explained is therefore to be considered immaterial.

rnocnss conmrroris The temperature at which the reaction is carried out i may be any temperature in the range of from about 55 to about 1000 F. The preferred temperature range runs from about 800 to 950 F.

i The pressure at which the reaction is conducted is also an important variable, and the reaction should be carried out at about atmospheric or slightly above atmospheric (2 to 3 atmospheres) pressure. In general, high pressures, i.e., above 250 p.s.i.g., are not'suitable for the process since higher pressures tend to favor the formation of undesirable by-products.

The apparent contact time employed in the process is not especially critical, and contact times in the range of from 0.1 to about 50 seconds may be employed. The optimum contact time will, of course, vary depending upon the olefin being treated, but in general it may be said that a contact time of from 1 to seconds is preferred.

In general, any apparatus of the type suitable for carry: ing out oxidation reactions in the vapor phase may be employed in the execution of this process. The process may be conducted either continuously or intermittently.

The catalyst bed may be a fixed'bed employing a pelleted catalyst or, in the alternative, a so-called fluidized bed of catalyst may be employed. The fluidized bed otters definite advantages with regard to process control in that such a bed permits closer control of the temperature of the reaction as is well known to those skilled in the art.

The reactor may be brought to the reaction temperature before or after the introduction of the reaction feed mixture. However, on a large scale operation it is preferred to carry out the pocess in a continuous manner, and in such a system the recirculation of the unreacted olefin is contemplated. Periodic regeneration or reactivation of the catalyst is also contemplated, and this may be accomplished, for example, by contacting the catalyst with air at an elevated temperature.

The products of the reaction may be recovered by any of the methods known to those skilled in the art. One such method involves scrubbing the efiluent gases from the reactor with cold water or an appropriate solvent to remove the products of the reaction. In such a case, the ultimate recovery of the products may be accomplished by conventional means. The efficiency of the scrubbing operation may be improved when water is employed as the scrubbing agent by adding a suitable wetting agent to the water. Where molecular oxygen is employed as the oxidizing agent in this process, the resulting product mixture remaining after the removal of the nitriles may be treated to remove carbon dioxide with the remainder of the mixture containing the unreacted propylene and OXY". gen being recycled through the reactor. In the case where air is employed as the oxidizing agent in lieu of molecular oxygen, the residual product after separation of the nitriles and other carbonyl products may be scrubbed with a nonpolar solvent, e.g., a hydrocarbon fraction, in order to recover unreacted propylene and in this case the remaining gases may be discarded. The addition of a suitable inhibitor to prevent polymerization of the unsaturated products during the recovery steps is also contemplated.

IV. OXIDATIVE DEHYDROGENATION OF OLEFINS TO. DIOLEFINS i This process is capable of dehydrogenating normal butylenes to butadiene and tertiary amylenes to isoprene,

but it can also be used to dehydrogenate normal amylenes to piperylene and higher olefins, e.g., hexenes, heptenes, and octenes, to the corresponding more unsaturated products. The normal butylene can be butene-l or butene-Z, either cis or trans, ora mixture of normal butylcues, such, for. example, as can be separated from the products obtainedin the cracking of petroleum oils or by the catalytic dehydrogenation of normal butane. The tertiary amylene can 'be any one or a mixture of the amylenes having one tertiary carbon atom. The feed stock can contain diluents such as any parafiinic or naphthenic hydrocarbon having up to about ten carbon atoms. Propylene and isobutylene should not be included in amounts exceeding a few percent.

The feed stock is preferably catalytically dehydrogenated in the presence of added steam, but this is not essential. Recommended proportions of steam are between about 0.1 to 2 moles per mole of reactant, but

larger amounts can be used if desired.

Oxygen is also passed with the feed stock through the reaction zone. Recommended amounts are, between about 0.3 and 2 moles per mole of olefin reactant. The

stoichiometric quantity is 0.5 mole per mole of olefin. It is preferred to use a stoichiometric excess, elg., about one mole per mole of olefin. The oxygen may be supplied as pure or substantially pure oxygen, or air, or in the form of hydrogen peroxide.

It is generally preferred to maintain the concentration of oxygen in the reactant mixture entering the reactor below about 12% although somewhat higher concentrations may be used if the concentration of the olefin reactant is at least about 10% when operating at 30 p.s.i.g., at least 15% when operating at p.s.i.g., and at least about 20% when operating at 300 p.s.i.g. Thus when using pure oxygen, it is frequently desirable to dilute the mixture with an inert or substantially inert diluent which may be steam, vapors or paraffin hydrocarbons, CO or the'like. On the other hand, if the amount of oxygen is such that it would constitute more than about 12% of the reaction mixture the oxygen may be introduced in increments, e.g., by injecting part of the oxygen separately into the reaction zone.

PROCES S CONDITIONS With the preferred catalyst the dehydrogenation becomes substantial at about 340 C. The preferred reac tion temperatures are between about 400 and 550 C. Higher temperatures up to about 600 C. can be used, if means is provided to remove the exothermic heat of re action. The temperatures mentioned are those near the reactor inlet. If a fixed bed of catalyst is used the temperature downstream will be as much as 75 C. higher.

The preferred pressure is near atmospheric, e.g., 5 to 75 p.s.i.a. On the other hand, higher pressures up to about 300 p.s.i.a. can be used, and have the advantage of simplifying the product recovery.

7 The process of the present invention allows a high space velocity, and thus, comparatively small reactors and catalyst can be used. For example, gaseous hourly space velocities up to about 5000 may be employed while still obtaining reasonable conversions. Gaseous hourly space velocity, abbreviated GHSV, is defined as the volumes of reactant vapor calculated under standard condition (STP) passed per hour per unit volume of the catalyst bed. Generally, space velocities between about 50 and 1000 are very satisfactory.

The contact of the feed vapors, oxygen and steam, if

any, is preferably efiected by providing the catalyst in the form of a fixed bed maintained at the reaction temperature, and passing the feed vapors through the bed. In this method of operation the partial pressure of oxygen is high (maximum) atthe inlet of the catalyst bed and declines towards the outlet. The concentration of diolefin product, on the other hand, is substantially zero at the inlet of the bed and maximum at the outlet. This allows very high selectivities to be achieved. It is also possible to use the catalyst in powder form, but certain precautions should be taken. Thus, the powdered catalyst (e.g., passing a 100 mesh U.S. standard sieve) can be dispersed in the reactant vapor mixtures and the dispersion passed through the reaction zone.

The gaseous mixture issuing from the reaction zone may be quenched but this is normally not essential. Except in some cases when operating at the upper limit of the recommended temperatures there is little tendency for side reactions to take place. The efiiuent is preferably cooled by indirect heat exchange with the feed and then washed with dilute caustic to neutralize the organic acids present and condense and remove the steam. If air is used to supply the oxygen the remaining mixture is preferably compressed and scrubbed with oil to sepa rate the hydrocarbons from the nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The hydrocarbon may be stripped from the oil and subject to an extractive distillation or a copper ammonium acetate treatment in the known manner to separate and recover the diolefin.

The following examples, in the opinion of the inventors, represent preferred embodiments of their invention:

Example I A bismuth silicophosphomolybdate catalyst base was prepared by the following procedure:

74 g. of an 85% phosphoric acid was added to 8330 g. of an aqueous silica sol containing 30% silica. Next, 2800 g. of bismuth nitrate was dissolved in a solution made by diluting 160 rnl. of 70% nitric acid to 1540 ml. with distilled water. The bismuth nitrate solution was then added to the silica sol. Next, 1360 g. of ammonium molybdate was dissolved in 1540 ml. of distilled water, and this solution added to the silica sol. The resulting catalyst slurry was dried in an oven at 200 F. for 24 hours and then calcined in a furnace at 800 F. for 24 hours. After cooling, the catalyst was ground into particles, and screened through a mesh screen. A portion of the 810 mesh material was then made into tablets, while the remainder was retained for use as a control, designated hereinafter as Control A.

The final catalyst composition corresponded to the empirical formula Bi PMo O (SiO having the following composition.

Element: Weight percent Bismuth 24.2 Phosphorus 0.4 Molybdenum 14.8 Silicon 23.4 Oxygen 37.2

This tabletted catalyst was then impregnated with promotors in accordance with the invention, by the following procedure:

25.9 g. of barium acetate was dissolved in hot water and diluted up to 420 ml. This hot solution was used to impregnate 400 g. of the tabletted catalyst prepared as described above, dipping tablets of the catalyst contained in a wire basket in the soiution for 4 minutes, then removing and draining them for 4 minutes. By procedure, 120 ml. of the barium acetate solution was absorbed by the catalyst, equivalent to 4.4 g. BaQ. The wet catalyst was dried overnight, and a portion was set aside, for use later as control B.

The remainder of the barium acetate-impregnated catalyst was impregnated a second time by the above method using a solution prepared by diluting 206 g. of 30% fluosilicic acid solution to 420 cc. with water.

Another portion of the base catalyst (Control A), not previously impregnated with barium acetate solution, was then impregnated with the fluosilicic acid solution in the same way. This was marked Control C.

Both batches of the impregnated catalyst were dried at 120 C. overnight.

Controls B and C and the twice-impregnated catalyst or" the invention then were calcined in air for 12 hours at 800 F. Finally, the three calcined catalysts were ground and screened, to obtain a size fraction in the 8 to 10 mesh range.

Thus, Control B contained 1% added barium, Control C 1% added silicon, Control A neither, and the catalyst of the invention, 1% added barium and 1% added silicon, together.

The promoted catalyst and the control catalysts A, B, and C without promoters and with only one promoter were employed in a series of experiments, to determine catalytic effectiveness, using a fixed bed reactor, in the oxidative conversion of propylene and ammonia to acrylonitrile. A ml. catalyst charge was used in each run. Gases were metered by Rotarneter, and water was fed by a Sigma motor pump. The feed ratios were held constant at H C=CHCH /NH /Air/N /H O 1/1.S/ 12/4/0.8, and the contact time was held constant at 5 seconds. The reaction temperature was varied from 850 to 910 F. in the series of runs carried out. The percent conversion to acrylonitrile versus reaction temperature for each catalyst was determined for the twice impregnated catalyst of the invention. At the optimum temperature range of 890 to 900 F. 94% of the propylene feed was converted, 77.6% being converted to acrylonitrile, 4.5% to acetonitrile, and the remainder to a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide. The useful yield was 92.9%.

In contrast, Control A, the base catalyst without promoters, at the optimum temperature of 860-870 F., gave a total conversion of 93.2%, of which 63.4% was acrylonitrile, 13.0% acetonitrile and the remainder, carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide. The useful yield was 78.6% The barium promoted Control B at the optimum temperature of Soil-870 F. gave a total conversion of 70.8% of which 51.4% was acrylonitrile, 8.4% acetonitrile and the remainder, carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide. The useful yield was 85.0%. The silicon promoted Control C at the optimum temperature of 900-910 F. gave a 78.6% total conversion, of which 58.4% was acrylonitrile, 6.2% acetonitrile, 1.9% acrolein, 2.4% aoetaldehyde, and the remainder, carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide.

Thus, silicon alone and barium alone have a definite depressing effect on acrylonitrile formation, while the two together materially enhance the catalytic efiect, as compared to the base catalyst.

The barium and silicon promoted catalyst was next employed in fixed bed form for the conversion of propylene to acrolein. During the reaction the reactor was maintained at a temperature of 825 F. at atmospheric pressure. The contact time with the catalyst was approximately one second. The feed molar ratios were air/ H O/prOpylene/nitrogen 5/ 6/ 1/ 32. Approximately 56% of the propylene feed was converted to acrolein and about 31% of the propylene was unreacted. This unreacted material could be recycled. The remainder of the product consisted of carbon oxides, minor amounts of low molecular weight carbonylic compounds, and organic acids.

Example II The bismuth silicophosphomolybdate catalyst of Example I was employed to prepare another series of promoted catalysts corresponding to those of Example I but with a greater amount of barium. Control A, as before, was the base catalyst. Control B was prepared in the same Way, but using a barium acetate solution containing 77.7 g. of barium acetate, three times the previous concentration, thus giving a catalyst containing 3% added barium, instead of 1%. Control C was identical to Example I, and the catalyst of the invention contained 3% added barium and 1% added silicon, as the oxides.

The catalysts were used in the conversion of propylene and ammonia to acrylonitrile, using the reactor of EX- ample I.

The catalyst of the invention at the optimum temperature of 875 F. an air/NH /H O/N ratio of /1/4/5, and a contact time of 8 seconds, gave a total conversion of 99.9% of which 75.4% was acrylonitrile, 4.5% acetonitrile, 0.9% acrolein, and the remainder carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide. The total useful yield was 79.9%. This is to be compared to the base catalyst, which under the Example I conditions gave a 63.4% conversion to acrylonitrile, 13.0% conversion to acetonitrile,

and the remainder carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide, giving a total conversion of 93.2% and a useful conversion of 78.6%. Control B at 860-870 F. and the conditions of -Exarnple I gave a total conversion of 78.9%, of'which 61.0% was acrylonitrile, 9.5% acetonitrile, and the remainder carbon dioxide and water, a. total useful yield of 87.8%. Control C under the Example I conditions at 9009l0 F. gave a 78.6% total conversion, of'

which 58.4% was acrylonitrile, 6.2% acetonitrile, 1.9% acrolein, 2.4% acetaldehyde and the remainder carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide.

The catalyst of the invention containing 3% added barium and 1% added silicon was also used in the con- A bismuth silicomolybdate catalyst was prepared following the procedure given in Example I, except that no phosphoric acid was added to the base catalyst slurry. This catalyst was then impregnated with barium acetate and fluosilicic acid solution, as described inExample I, and the resulting catalyst used in the oxidation of propylene as in Example I, in comparison with the base catalyst. The promoted catalyst gave an increase of approximately 10% in the conversion of propylene to acrylonitrile, as compared to the base catalyst.

Each of the above examples utilizes the barium and silicon-promoted catalyst of the invention in comparison against the base catalyst in the oxidation of olefins to oxygenated hydrocarbons, e.g., propylene to acrylonitrile. It will be understood that the promotional efiect is also evidenced in the oxidative dehydrogenation of olefins to diolefins, such as butene to butadiene, and amylenes to isoprene, as described in U.S. Patent No. 2,991,320 to Hearne and Furman, patented July 4, 1961.

Example IV Trans-butene-2 was dehydrogenated to butadiene using the barium and silicon promoted catalyst of Example I in admixture with air and steam. The reactor temperature was held at 835845 F. and the molar ratios butene/air/water at 1/8/4. The residence time in contact with the 300 ml. of catalyst was four seconds. A per pass bon oxides,

i2 a Example VI 7 0 Butene-l was dehydrogenated to butadieneusing the 3% barium-1%1silicon promoted catalyst of Example II in a fixed bed reactor. The butene-l feed was mixed with air and waterin the molar ratio, butene/air/Water,

1/ 8/ 4. The temperature in the reactor was held at 870 F., and the apparent contact time was 6 seconds. The reaction was conducted at atmospheric pressure. 300 ml. of catalyst was used. The conversion .per pass to 1,3- butadiene was 75%, together with 7% oxygenated products, the balance being carbon oxides.

All percentages in the specification and claims are by weight, in the case of the catalyst composition, and by volume in the case of gases.

We claim: 1. A catalyst composition consisting essentially of oxides of bismuth and molybdenum as the essential catalytic ingredients, the bismuth oxide being present in an amount to furnish a bismuth to molybdenum BizMo atomic ratio of above 1:3, promoted by a mixture of oxides of barium and silicon, in the proportion of about 1 to about 5%, calculated as barium, and about 1 to about 10%, calculated as silicon.

2. A catalyst composition in accordance with claim 1, which also includes a phosphorus oxide in an amount up to about 5% by weight. a

3. A catalyst composition consisting essentially of oxides of bismuth and molybdenum as the essential catalytic ingredients and also including silica, as a support the bismuth oxide being present in an amount to furnish a bismuth to molybdenum BizMo atomic ratio of above 1:3, promoted by a mixture of oxides of barium and silicon, in the proportion of about 1 to about 5%, calculated as barium, and about 1 to about 10%, calculated as silicon, excluding silica present as a support.

4. A catalyst composition in accordance with claim 3, which also includes a phosphorus oxide in an amount up to about 5% by weight. 7 a

5. A catalyst composition consisting essentially of oxides of bismuth and molybdenum as the essential catalytic ingredients and also including barium oxide and silicon dioxide as promoters, the catalyst having a composition corresponding to the empirical chemical formula:

72.597% (Bi P M0 O )-l6% BaO-221.5% SiO where a is a number within the range from about 4 to 36, b is a number within the range from 0 m2, and c is /2n-a-|- /2m-b-]- /zp- 12, wherein n, m and p are the average valences of bismuth, phosphorus and molybdenum, respectively, in the catalyst, the BizMo atomic ratio being above 1:3. a

6. A catalyst composition consisting essentially of oxides of bismuth and molybdenum as the essential catalytic ingredients and also including barium oxide and silicon dioxide as promoters, the catalyst having a composition corresponding to the empirical chemical formula:

wherein a is a number within the range from about 4 to 36, b is a number within the range from 0 to 2, and c is /zn-a-l-Vzm-b-l-Vzp-IZ, wherein n, m and p are the average valences of bismuth, phosphorus and molybdenum, respectively, in the catalyst, the BizMo atomic ratio being above 1:3. Y

' '7. A process for promoting a catalyst composition consisting essentially of oxides of bismuth and molybdenum as the essential catalytic ingredients, the bismuth oxide being present in an amount to furnish a bismuth to molybdenum Bizlvioatomic ratio of above 1:3 which comprises impregnating the catalyst with an aqeuous composi-' tion of a barium compound and a silicon compound selected from the group consisting of barium oxides, silicon oxides, and barium and silicon compounds thermally decomposable in situ to a barium oxide and a silicon 0X- ide Without formation of deleterious metal oxide residue, and then drying and calcining the impregnated catalyst at a temperature in excess of about 800 F., but below a temperature at which the catalyst is deleteriously affected.

8. A process in accordance with claim 7 in which the silicon compound is fluosilicic acid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,058 11/38 Spicer et a1. 252-435 X 2,440,471 4/48 Guyer 260-680 2,442,319 5/48 Britton et a1. 260-680 2,451,040 10/48 Murphree 260-680 2,481,826 9/49 Cosby 260-4653 12/52 Maclean et al. 260-4653 2/54 Hadley et a1. 260-604 4/54 Darby 252-456 1/57 Baldwin 260-604 10/57 Dixon 252-456 6/60 Callahan et al 252-461 X 11/61 Hadley et a1 260-4653 7/62 Callahan et a1. 252 437 4/63 Koch et a1. 252-435 X FOREIGN PATENTS 5/33 Great Britain.

MAURICE A. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner. LEON ZITVER, Examiner. 

1. A CATALYST COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF OXIDES OF BISMUTH AND MOLYBDENUM AS THE ESSETIAL CATALYTIC INGREDIENTS, THE BISMUTH OXIDE BEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT TO FURNISH A BISMUTH OT MOLYBDENUM BI:MO ATOMIC RATIO OF ABOVE 1:3, PROMOTED BY A MIXTURE OF OXIDES OF BARIUM AND SILICON, IN THE PROPORTION OF ABOUT 1 TO ABOUT 5% CALCULATED AS BARIUM, AND ABOUT 10%, CALCULATED AS SILICON.
 2. A CATALYST COMPOSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAIM 1, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A PHOSPHORUS OXIDE IN AN AMOUNT UP TO ABOUT 5% BY WEIGHT. 